The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-13
THEY ARE JOHNSON'SALLIES
How the Democratic Aldermen Stand on
the Street Railway Matter.
They Come Out Boldly In Support of john
sons Company and Refuse to Consider the
Petitions Of the Labor Organizations.


| Aldermen they have vanished after last nights
| meeting of the Board The measure that came up
before it were of such a character that they COM
| PEELED the members to show how they stood, and
! the result was that johnson received practically
| the united support of the Democratic side of the
| board on every question touching his interest
| Twenty five representa- from the various
/ labor organizations, many of them from the
| Central Labor Union. sat in the lobby and noted
what the pretended Democratic friends of the
/ laboring men did.
There was not an absentee when the board
was called to order. The action of the Council
in calling for bids the Washing ton street
| improvement with the understanding that work
should not begin until spring, was concurred in
unanimously, without any discussion.
There was some other unimportant business,
| and then the fight various questions touch
ing the interest of the Citizens Street-railway
| Company begun, and lasted for hour. It was
| precptated by the reading of the resolution
passed ut the last session of the Council
dering the street railway company put con-
ductors and rear platforms the cars The
clerk had hardly finished the last
sentence of the resolution before Alderman King
moved that it be referred to the committee
railroads. Alderman Prier his feet at
luton. Schmidt the assistance of his
Democratic colleague, King. and seconded the
motion to refer the resolution. He said he could
not see the necessity OF platforms conductors,
and thought the demard for their being put
was only to suit the whims of few people. He
believed the citizens could get accommo-
dation out of the road as it was operated,
and he gave notice that he would stand by King
in opposing the passage of the resolution.
Alderman Rail sec onded the motion of Prier
cur in the action of the Council He said
he could for any further delay
with the resolution. 1t had been pending be-
fore the board for weeks an he knew so far as
his tituents were concerned they wanted il
passed, and would be satisfied with nothing else.
He could reason why the members should
want to show any leniency toward the street.
railway company. Resolution after resolution
had been passed. and the company had refused
to nay any attention to any of them For years it
ALPHABETICALLY ignored the right ofthe council and
Board of Aldermen to direct what it should do.
Mr.. Prier said in support of his motion. that if
the body intended to ever act it,
i the time, and the remark drew from Mr. King
the suggestion that next wear would be soon
enough. Alderman Rail finally moved to lay
the table Mr.. Kings motion to refer the reso-
luton to committee, and the yeas and nays
were taken with the following result: Yeas
Messrs. Prier. Prtchard, Rail, Wright and
Endly-5. Nays-Messrs. Brown Crosby King
Laut and Schmidt. AS the tie
and the motion lost. Kings motion to refer the
voted upon. with the following result: Ayes
Messrs. Brown, Crosby, King. Laut and
Schmidt-5 Nays-NIessrs. Prier, Pritchard,
Rail, Wright and Endly-5.
The vote still being a tie, with all the Demo
Gratis voting for the company but Rail- the ques-
ton on the motion to concur in the action of
the Council was called for, and the vote was the
same as on the two previous ballots. Every
Democrat opposed the concurrence except Rail.
It being impossible to the resolution, il was
referred to the committee on railroads oy d vo3e
of to 4.
Following the disposition of the resolutions
was the report of the action of the Council,
granting; the johnson et-railway company
the right to lay a track to Haughvile, over the
same territory recently granted to the Dudley
street railway company. Alderman King
again ready to serve the Johnsons, and moved
that the action of the Council be concurred in
Alderman Rail moved substitute that
the resolution be referred TO the committee
streets and alleys and the city attorney for in
vestigation He said that he did not believe the
body had legal right to grant the right of way
to both companies, and even if they had. it
would not be doing the fair thing by the Dudley
company to allow johnson the right to the line.
gentleman from the firm of Haugh
Ketcham e Co.. of Haughville, was allowed to
make statement the board. He said that
his company was very anxious to have line
constructed the suburb for the benefit of
their mployes many OF whom live in the city.
The people of the suburb. he said, did not care
who Quilt the line, it built
Alderman Wright thought the action of a pre-
vious session of the board in granting the Dud-
ley company the right OF way of Michigan street
should be interfered with. He thought to
grant the right of way would be acting in bad
faith with Colonel Dudley, who was granted
the exclusive right of way until a year from Oct.
l. and believed the legal status of the question
should be investigated by the city attorney
Col w. Il. Holloway, who present, said
the Dudley company was acting in good faith,
and expected to build the road this fall yet, if
possible The company he represented under
thavh had he vel n9iv ioht tn OF
line on Michigan street, and would contest any
encroachments.
Aldermen Prier said johnson would never
have desired to build line Hauehville had it
not been that he saw the Dudley company
going to build one there. He said that when
ever he became convinced that Colonel Dudley
not acting in good faith. he would vote to
grant the right of way to johnson, but not until
then
Mr. King insisted his motion to concur in
the action of the Council and all the Democrats
members except Rail supported him. While the
president was about to present the motion, the
Central Labor Union submitted through Alder
Rail the following comm unicaton:
Whereas The Citizens Street Railroad Company
has received valuable franchises from the city of In
by the features usually presented
by by monopoes their repeated refgsals to COM
public, and especially the working classes who
asked by their repeated violations of their charter
shown by report made to the City Council by tn
Mayor CITY attorney committees py
refusal pay their proportion of the for paving
Washington street. on which all their lines run. as
they required to do by their charter when it is
known that money made 10y the roads in this ty
used to pave entire street in Cleveland with
Medina stone; by their failure lay their tracks
with the latest improved rails keep the streets
clean between the tracks, by their poor service
ally compared with the service of other cities;
therefore
Resolved, That the Central Labor Union, represent
ing the various organizations of the city of Innianapo
lis speaking for many thousands of people. enter
protest against any further franchise being granted
them and respectfully ask that your committee
will pas without deav the resolutions Council
ordering platforms and conductors
The communication signed by the presi-
dent and secretary of the Central Labor Union.
At the conclusion of it's reading Mr.. Prier moved
that the communication be received Mr.. King
was on his feet in moment and moved to lay Mr..